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Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Victim Stabbed During Student-Involved Fight Outside Hudson Valley HS Victim Stabbed During Student-Involved Fight Outside Hudson Valley HS
Victim Stabbed During Student-Involved Fight Outside Hudson Valley HS At least one person was injured during a student-involved fight and stabbing mere steps from a Hudson Valley high school. The Sullivan County incident happened in the town of Liberty, just outside Liberty High School, at the end of the school day on Thursday, Dec. 12. A fight broke out between a group of Liberty students and others who are not students, and at some point one of the non-students was stabbed, the Liberty Central School District said in a letter to parents. The victim ran to the campus and sought medical attention, and a medevac helicopter landed on the school’s football fiel…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Hudson Valley West Point Grad Awarded Rhodes Scholarship Hudson Valley West Point Grad Awarded Rhodes Scholarship
Hudson Valley West Point Grad Awarded Rhodes Scholarship A West Point grad from the region is one of only 32 students nationwide to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford in the fall of 2025. Orange County resident Shepherd Dzina of Tuxedo Park and three other cadets were awarded the scholarship on Saturday, Nov. 16. Dzina is an economics major currently serving as the Brigade Executive Officer at West Point, managing logistics and operations for over 4,400 cadets. He also leads the Finance Club and conducts research with the Army’s Office of Economics and Manpower Analysis. He has interned with the US International Develop…

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by Daily Voice
Schools
Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Hudson Valley Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Hudson Valley
Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Hudson Valley Parents and students can expect to see extra police on the campus of a middle school in the region after a threat of violence was made over social media. Enlarged City School District of Middletown Superintendent Amy Creeden said the threat was received late Monday, Nov. 11, in Orange County at Monhagen Middle School in the town of Wallkill. The threat, which Wallkill Police are actively investigating, was made on social media by an unidentified user who created a fake, well-known username in an attempt to gain attention. Creeden said the threat has been shared rapidly by and among students…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To Hudson Valley School District Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To Hudson Valley School District
Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To Hudson Valley School District Residents will have a chance to ask questions during an upcoming meeting when they will be asked to approve spending $2.27 million on electric school buses in a school district in the region. The meeting is in Dutchess County from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School at 156 S Cross Road in Staatsburg. Hyde Park Central School District officials said attendees will learn everything about implementing electric buses during the panel discussion. Representatives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Leonard Bus Sales …

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Athletic Director At School District In Hudson Valley Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen Athletic Director At School District In Hudson Valley Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen
Athletic Director At School District In Hudson Valley Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen This story has been updated. An athletic director at a school district in Westchester County has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly extorting a teenager to send sexually explicit images and videos. Thomas James Puccini, 28 years old and employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics by the Eastchester Union Free School District, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1. He was charged with felony grand larceny in the fourth degree and was arraigned in White Plains City Court by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Puccini has been pla…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of NY Schools That Received Products Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of NY Schools That Received Products
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of NY Schools That Received Products A preliminary list has been released of schools that received items that were part of a nationwide recall of millions of pounds of meat and poultry products over fears they may be contaminated with Listeria. The initial recall involving the manufacturer, Bruce Pac, was for 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) products sold at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Trader Joe's, 7-Eleven, Aldi, and other stores. It was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Earlier this week, the recall was expanded to include 11,765,285 pounds of products, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspectio…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Hudson Valley Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings Hudson Valley Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings
Hudson Valley Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings New York is well-represented in brand-new rankings of the best high schools in New York. The first four in Niche's 2025 selections are all from New York City: Stuyvesant in Manhattan, the Bronx High School of Science, Staten Island Technical High School, and Townsend Harris High School in Queens. Checking in at No. 5 and the first Westchester County selection is Scarsdale High School. The first Long Island school picked is No. 7 Half Hollow Hills West in Dix Hills. Long Island schools also make up spots 10 through 13: They are Jericho, Syosset, and Great Neck South high schools. Four mor…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Hudson Valley's West Point Ranked As Top 10 National Public College Hudson Valley's West Point Ranked As Top 10 National Public College
Hudson Valley's West Point Ranked As Top 10 National Public College The US Military Academy at West Point moved up one in the Top Public Schools category to No. 2 in the 2025 Best Colleges Rankings by US News & World Report. The rankings, released this week, showed the Orange County college in the town of Highlands also ranked as No. 8 in Best National Liberal Arts College, the magazine said. The rankings were based on statistics, the top-ranked schools provided ample classroom resources for students and faculty; conferred bachelor's degrees at high rates; and produced graduates who entered the workforce with manageable debt and worthwhile starting sala…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Leader Of Hudson Valley School District Named NYS Superintendent Of Year Leader Of Hudson Valley School District Named NYS Superintendent Of Year
Leader Of Hudson Valley School District Named NYS Superintendent Of Year The head of a Westchester County school district has been awarded a top honor for superintendents in New York State.  Tarrytown Union Free School District Superintendent Raymond Sanchez was named the Superintendent of the Year for 2025 by the New York State Council of School Superintendents, the organization announced on Monday, Sept. 23. Council President Lars Clemensen, the superintendent of the Hampton Bays School District on Long Island, explained the reasons why Sanchez was chosen:  "Ray’s recognition as the New York State Superintendent of the Year is a testa…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools
New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools With the new school year comes renewed debate over the use of cell phones in the classroom. Among New York parents of school-age children, 77-percent support barring cell phone use in schools during the day, a Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” poll found. Most parents, 72-percent, said they still want their child to have their phone on them in case of an emergency, the poll found. Earlier Report: Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children The poll was conducted by 600 parents with at least one child under the age of 18 in New York Cit…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY There will soon be a student on every school board in New York.A new law requiring all state boards of education to have at least one student member will take effect on July 1, 2025. The students will attend public meetings, but not executive sessions, and won't be allowed to vote. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Thursday, Sept. 5. It will also remove the current law requirement that a student member seat be authorized by referendum of the voters of the district.  The bill would also remove the requirement that a student member be a senior at the school and instead require only …

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Rockland County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras Rockland County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras
Rockland County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras A Hudson Valley county is ensuring drivers are fined for not stopping for a stopped school bus by installing new stop-arm cameras. Rockland County Executive Ed Day announced on Tuesday, Aug. 27, that stop-arm cameras have been installed on nearly all school buses countywide in time for the 2024 school year. “These cameras will automatically record any vehicle that illegally passes a stopped school bus, capturing crucial evidence that will be used to enforce traffic laws and hold offenders accountable,” explained Day. “But this program is not about enforcement; it’s about saving lives, and n…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
This Hudson Valley School District Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones: This Hudson Valley School District Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones:
This Hudson Valley School District Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones: Students in another Hudson Valley school district will be forced to look up from their phone screens, as officials will be requiring them to lock up their devices for the entire day.  In its end-of-summer newsletter, the Garrison Union Free School District in Putnam County announced that it will no longer allow cell phone use during the instructional day between 8:25 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.  During this time, students will have to store their devices in lockers and keep them powered down or in silent mode. More information about the policy will be contained in the district's updated&nb…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Middle School In Hudson Valley Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Middle School In Hudson Valley
Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Middle School In Hudson Valley A funny thing happened at a Hudson Valley high school last year when students were required to lock up their cell phones during the day—it worked, and now the middle school is joining the club.  Poughkeepsie Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser said the Yondr pouch program was launched in Dutchess County at Poughkeepsie High School in April.  Rosser wrote in his school newsletter that the program has changed its culture and improved attendance and engagement since its inception. This fall, district officials are expanding the program to Poughkeepsie Middle School. “The su…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War
School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War Elected officials and community members are calling for a Hudson Valley school board member to step down following alleged antisemitic remarks made at a board meeting.  The outrage was prompted following a school board meeting in Putnam County on Tuesday, July 9, when Carmel Central School District Trustee Jim Wise allegedly controversy within the town over a comment on the Israel-Hamas war. The statement in question, "From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free," was defended by Wise in a post on social media on Wednesday, Aug. 7.  "I also reject absolutely the idea that …

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Pair Of New Principals Named At School District In Hudson Valley Pair Of New Principals Named At School District In Hudson Valley
Pair Of New Principals Named At School District In Hudson Valley Two new principals will soon take the lead at two Hudson Valley schools. In an announcement on Thursday, July 25, the Carmel Central School District in Putnam County revealed that new principals were hired for both Kent Primary School and Kent Elementary School.  Vincent Fino, the former Assistant Principal at Carmel High School, will take over at Kent Primary School. He replaces Dan Brown, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year, the district said. Meanwhile, John Fratto will be the next principal at Kent Elementary School and replace Michael Setaro, who will begin a new ro…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave In Northern Westchester Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave In Northern Westchester
Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave In Northern Westchester A Northern Westchester school district has appointed a new acting superintendent after putting its previous leader on administrative leave.  The North Salem Central School District announced on Wednesday, July 24, that Superintendent Duncan Wilson had been placed on administrative leave.  In his place, Adam VanDerStuyf was named Acting Superintendent on Monday, July 22, according to the school board.  VanDerStuyf, who has been with the district since 2015, has held roles such as Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Se…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley
Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley A school district in the Hudson Valley was the target of a cyberattack that disabled computer services and access to phones and email. In Orange County, the Goshen Central School District announced on Thursday, July 11, that it was the subject of the ransomware incident. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kurtis Kotes said the district notified law enforcement and is working with cyber security experts to determine the source of the attack and take the necessary steps to repair the problems as quickly as possible. In an update late Friday afternoon, July 12, Kotes said: "The disaster reco…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts
New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts An educator with decades of experience is following in the footsteps of her father and stepping up to lead a large Hudson Valley school district.  On Monday, July 1, Erin Meehan-Fairben officially began her position as superintendent of Putnam County's Carmel Central School District, to which she holds deeply personal ties.  A native of the area, Fairben was born in Putnam County Hospital and was raised within the Carmel community until she was around 5 years old. As a child, she used to play on the steps of Carmel's one-room schoolhouse as her father, Richard R. Meehan,…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Superintendent Named At Northern Westchester School District New Superintendent Named At Northern Westchester School District
New Superintendent Named At Northern Westchester School District A Northern Westchester superintendent will soon transition to leading another nearby district in the county. In an announcement on Friday, June 14, the Katonah-Lewisboro School District revealed its next superintendent would be Raymond Blanch, who will be formally appointed in the role by the Board of Education on Thursday, June 20.  Blanch, who has served as superintendent of the Somers Central School District since July 2010, will officially begin in his new role on Monday, July 15.  Blanch's selection follows multiple rounds of interviews conducted by the school board in an ef…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Westchester Students Help Name Baby Falcons Born On Top Of New Tappan Zee Bridge Westchester Students Help Name Baby Falcons Born On Top Of New Tappan Zee Bridge
Westchester Students Help Name Baby Falcons Born On Top Of New Tappan Zee Bridge Thanks to elementary school students in Westchester and Rockland counties, several baby peregrine falcons born on top of the new Tappan Zee Bridge have been bestowed with creative names.  To name the falcons, which were born in late May on top of the new Tappan Zee Bridge, the New York State Thruway Authority and Veolia Water held a contest in which voters could decide between several names chosen by schoolchildren throughout the region. Nearly 200,000 votes later, the results are in — the four winning names are:  Beakoncé, which earned 26 percent of votes and was the idea of Ms…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Hudson Valley School To Close For Year Hudson Valley School To Close For Year
Hudson Valley School To Close For Year Delays from the state Department of Education have forced a Hudson Valley school district to close an elementary school for a year. The school, Fort Montgomery Elementary School, is located in Orange County. According to Superintendent of Schools Michael McElduff, the district submitted all required documentation for the extensive project review to the State Education Department.  On Thursday, May 30, the district had not heard back from the state on the proposed improvement and much-needed upgrades for the school. "The district has been proactive in communicating with SED and h…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President The president of Long Island’s Stony Brook University has been selected to first permanent female president of Yale University. Maurie McInnis was named Yale’s 24th president in an announcement by the school. The 58-year-old cultural historian, currently serving as the president of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, graduated from Yale with a Ph.D in art history in 1996. In the years since her graduation, McInnis has served in senior positions at the University of Virginia and the University of Texas at Austin before moving to Stony Brook University in 2020. She became a Yale trus…

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by Sophie Grieser